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What is a Managed Services Provider (MSP)?

Key Takeaways: 

  • MSPs manage IT services so businesses can focus on growth, not glitches.

  • Top-tier MSP services include security, support, and proactive monitoring.

  • Cybersecurity is a non-negotiable part of any modern MSP solution.

  • Huntress helps MSPs scale protection with expert-driven, 24/7 support.




If you’re IT, you’ve probably heard the term managed services provider (MSP) thrown around a lot. But without industry jargon and sales-y elevator pitches, what does an MSP actually do? And more specifically, how do they help bolster a cybersecurity strategy? 


In this quick, no-frills guide, we’ll break down what an MSP is, what MSPs do, why they matter, and how they can be the unsung heroes of a business’s digital infrastructure. Whether you’re a small business owner or a future MSP yourself, understanding what services the right MSP should have and the partners they surround themselves with can help take your cybersecurity strategy to the next level.

What is a Managed Services Provider (MSP)?

Key Takeaways: 

  • MSPs manage IT services so businesses can focus on growth, not glitches.

  • Top-tier MSP services include security, support, and proactive monitoring.

  • Cybersecurity is a non-negotiable part of any modern MSP solution.

  • Huntress helps MSPs scale protection with expert-driven, 24/7 support.




If you’re IT, you’ve probably heard the term managed services provider (MSP) thrown around a lot. But without industry jargon and sales-y elevator pitches, what does an MSP actually do? And more specifically, how do they help bolster a cybersecurity strategy? 


In this quick, no-frills guide, we’ll break down what an MSP is, what MSPs do, why they matter, and how they can be the unsung heroes of a business’s digital infrastructure. Whether you’re a small business owner or a future MSP yourself, understanding what services the right MSP should have and the partners they surround themselves with can help take your cybersecurity strategy to the next level.

What does MSP mean?

At its core, an MSP is a third-party company remotely managing a business’s IT environment and digital infrastructure. This could include anything from handling patching and backups to monitoring endpoints and running IT help desks—it all depends on the provider and your specific gaps. 

An MSP benefits many companies by allowing them to not stress about the day-to-day technical, IT-related duties that require specifically trained and skilled expertise. Whether it’s preventing network downtime or ensuring your data protection is compliant, MSPs keep the gears of your digital infrastructure turning.



What are some examples of MSP services?

An MSP services offering typically works best for small to midsize businesses that don’t have a fully staffed IT department. MSPs fill this gap by overseeing the administration of endpoints, cloud apps, Wi-Fi, sensitive data, and other equipment like printers and servers. 

More specifically, MSPs handle: 

  • Endpoint management and monitoring 

  • Patching and software updates

  • Cloud and SaaS support 

  • Data backups and disaster recovery 

  • User support and help desk services

  • Security tools and threat detection

In short, an MSP’s main objective is to help keep a business’s digital infrastructure secure and running smoothly



Why use MSP solutions?

In our digital-first world, your IT environment is everything to your business, making MSP solutions crucial. That said, tech is complex, cyber threats are growing and evolving, and if you’re a small to midsize business, you likely don’t have time to upskill one of your people to be an IT wizard overnight. 

Around-the-clock expertise

If you’re a small business owner, you’re probably always struggling with bandwidth. With a dedicated MSP, avoid the headache of hiring skilled IT pros and get the peace of mind of 24/7 monitoring. 

Proactive support and scalable solutions

If you’re trying to juggle the duties of an MSP yourself, you’ll likely find yourself in a constant state of reacting to issues that evolve into a full-blown crisis. With an MSP in your corner, problems are prevented through proactive support. With this approach, your MSP partner will know how to scale solutions as your business grows. 

And if you’re an MSP yourself, this isn’t just a baseline approach to your clients—the same logic applies to the vendors and tools you partner with. You need reliable solutions that save you time and make you look good to your clients.




How MSPs can support cybersecurity

If you’re an MSP and your services don’t include cyber protection, you’re setting up your client relationships for failure. Cybersecurity isn’t a feature—it’s a must, and the best MSPs build cybersecurity into everything they do. 

Here’s the baseline cybersecurity services every good MSP should offer: 

  • Endpoint detection and response (EDR) 

  • 24/7 monitoring from a legit security operations center (SOC)

  • Vulnerability management and patching 

  • Security awareness training (SAT) 

  • Account and identity monitoring 


An MSP isn’t meant to be just an IT maintenance worker. They’re supposed to be a cybersecurity partner. That means protecting clients from ransomware, phishing, data breaches, and the dozens of other threats lurking in inboxes and networks.


How Huntress works with MSPs


At Huntress, we’ve walked in your shoes. Our managed cybersecurity platform is purpose-built for MSPs looking to boost their cybersecurity offerings without burning out their teams.

Here’s how we’ve got your back:

  • Human-led threat detection—our 24/7 SOC catches what automation misses

  • Managed EDR that cuts through the noise and flags what actually matters

  • Security awareness training that your clients will actually pay attention to

  • Clear reporting that you can pass along to clients to show your value

We help you deliver enterprise-grade security to businesses of any size without needing a giant SOC of your own. While you focus on growing your MSP business, we’ll handle the bad guys.

What do you say, partner?  Let's connect. 



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